Today's News

The combination of recent hard freezes in North Central Florida along with an average drought index of 619 has created higher than normal risks for wildfires.

The index is based on a scale from 0 to 800 with readings in the winter months over 540 considered severe. And hard freezes kill and dry-out grasses and other light vegetation that helps spread fire. Wildland fire officials are urging citizens to use caution.

An accident at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday on North Main Street, north of the triangle, tied up traffic as the Williston Fire Department and local police cleared up the scene. The accident involved multiple vehicles, including a motor home.

NEW PRINCIPAL: John Lott will take over the administration of Williston High School when Mike DeLucas leaves after this week.

Our dealings here at the paper with DeLucas have always been good, and we wish him well in his new endeavor at the Florida Virtual School.

I confess I didn’t know much about the Virtual School until I talked with DeLucas last week. I started checking up on it and it’s amazing how many students across Florida are taking part in this service.

Freddie Byron Hale, 80, of Williston, died Dec. 22, 2008, at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville following a short illness.

He came to the Morriston area from Gainesville in 1943. He was the owner and operator of the Ivy House Restaurant in Williston and Alachua, a member of the Florida Cattleman’s Assocation, S.E. Wood Producers Association, Florida Forestry Association and the Good Ole Boys Club in Williston. He was an avid fisherman. He was a member of the Williston Church of God.

It has been my pleasure to serve as Principal at Williston High School and Assistant Principal at Joyce Bullock Elementary School for the past seven years. I have always appreciated the support of this community for all four Williston schools.

Since announcing my resignation last week, I have received numerous congratulatory phone calls, emails, cards and personal visits. I have been overwhelmed by the warm wishes and sincere gratitude. Thank you.

Williston High School's boys basketball team kept its record unblemished last Friday with a 59-50 win over Dixie County on the road.

The victory left the Red Devils with an 8-0 record, and a perfect 5-0 through the first half of district play.

The next game for WHS will be Friday at 3 p.m. at Ocala Vanguard, when the Devils take on North Marion in the first round of the Kingdom of the Sun. A win would put them in an 8 p.m. game on Saturday, while a loss would result in a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday.

With leading scorer James Rivers still out of action, nursing a sore ankle, the Bronson Eagles took the sting out of the Lafayette Hornets on Dec. 19, and flew to a 73-56 win before a half-filled gym in Bronson.

The Eagles took their first lead as the first quarter came to an end 14-12. The Hornets continued to keep pace with the Eagles and trailed by just three points, thanks to a 3-point basket by Antwan Brown as the first half ended with the Eagles leading 27-24.